The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-11-19
SELL THE FRANCHISES.

1t has been observed that WITHIN a
month two or three petitions have been
presented to the City Council praying
for 'the privilege of laying mains
thro 5gh the streets for the conveyance
of natural gas. 1t is also understood
that other applications for the franchise
are to be handed in soon. THE HERALD
likes to note these things. They indi-
care the presence of spirit OF enter
prise and development, and tell OF pro-
gress. Natural gas in paying guam
titles has not yet been found
hereabouts, but determined search
for it is being made, and if it exists 1t
will undoubtedly be unesrthed, as it
were, and utilized. Besides the local
comLany which has been formed for
the purpose of boring for the valuable
fluid, outside parties are said to be in
teresting themselves in the matter.
There is an abundance of capital with
which to pay the est of thorough e1-
ploration, and it may be regarded as
assured that if gas exists anywhere
within reasonable distance of Salt Lake
it will be discovered and brought here
for consumption.
In this connection it may be well
enough to suggest to the City Fathers
the propriety of making departure in
the matter of franchises, and the right
of way. Heretofore no charge has
been made for any of these things. The
railways, steam and horse, use the
streets without cost, and are not even
taxed on half the value OF their prop
erty. The gas company pays nothing
for the privilege of running Its mains
through the streets, nor do the tele-
graph, telephone and electric light |
companies pay for occupying the
streets for their poles and wires.
We all recognize the advantages that
these useful institutions are to the city,
and we all know that the public could
not well do without them. NeVerthe-
less, it is equally well understood that
the companies, and not the people,
make the money out of them. The
corporations are not organized for the
benefit of the public, nor do the stock
holders invest their money through |
any philantrophic motive or i'm
pulse. The schemes are all money !
making for the stockholders,
and the latter care no more for
the people than does the owner OF a |
mill, or the proprietor Of a peanut
stand. Isn't it about time that Salt
Lake set out to help itself, by doing the
best that it can for itself? The city
needs money bad enough, everybody
knows. 1t could pro6tably and intelli-
gently expend million in desirable i'm
provements within the next two wears.
It must expend some during that time.
or let pass unimproved the opPortuni-
ties presenting themselves for max
ing the town great and popu-
lous. 1t will be perfectly iegiti-
mate and proper to obtain some
of the money required for corporation
expenses and Improvements by de-
pay for the public franchises.
If the privilege of laying gas mines is
SO valuable as to excite the squsbble for
it now going on, it is worth money.
Why not put the franchise up at auc-
ton and sell it to the highest bidder, at
the same time reserving the right to an
null the franchise in the event OF its
nonuse within a certain REASONABLE
timer Other cities do this, instead
of giving to private companies the val
usble right for the mere asking, The
plan wouId also be eminently fair and
lust, and would close the mouths OF
those who are ever On the alert to
charge favoritism. The same rule
might with equal propriety be followed
in the disposal of other franchises, as
those for street railways, telegraph lines
sad so on. The matter is worthy the
consideration of the Council, and at
this time of severe municipal poverty
and city needs, it demands very serious
thought.